CANADA 11-1-21

CANADA EDITION

5

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACHIEVE YOUR BIGGEST GOALS COVER STORY

JENNIFER ALLEN 5 FRESH NEW APPROACHES TO

CONTENT MARKETING

4 QUALITIES OF EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES

5 Morning Habits To Make Your Day Super Productive FEATURED AGENTS

ANNE MURPHY DANIELLE JOLICOEUR MATTHEW WARSH & DYLAN SLAKMON RYAN TOMYN TARALYNN ARSENAULT

CANADA EDITION

DANIELLE JOLICOEUR

ANNE MURPHY Top Danielle Jolicoeur wanted toAgentbeJennifer a real Danielle and awards for her developments. “I spend a Always striving to ensure her clients have Allen of RE/MAX 7 15 good portion of my time 16in designing and the best possible experience, Anne Murphy serves estate agent ever since she Generation was ten years time-generous planning new construction projects for my is a real estate agent who makes it the herCowichan Valley construction company.” responsibility clients understand area, including old, when that herherfamily purchased aMillnew them in stagin and are comfortable with every aspectBay ofup to Ladysmith, home.

The from Realtor showed of the p Aside from her professionalism, photos experiChemainus, Lakethem the transaction start to who finish. This Cowichan, Youbou, ence, and honest communication skills, focus on the the determinahouses wasdetails a and woman who projected a listing profile and Honeymoon Bay. what makes Anne stand out is her imprestion to ensure a successful transaction for sive marketing. She believes that the most confidence and apartsuccess, interest to eve all involved sets Anne as a trusted something important part of marketing starts by sitting resource for began buyers andtrying sellers throughout Danielle to emulate.RYAN “She Through video TOMYN down with the client and keenly listening the Okanagan and provides Anne’s clients ARSENAULT their knowledge of the property.

“I don’t made impression onin me.

When images, they s JENNIFER ALLEN ANNE MURPHY toTARALYNN DANIELLE JOLICOEUR with theabestbig possible recipe & for success MATTHEW WARSH DYLAN SLAKMON have the same approach to every home, their real estate endeavors. ccording toandTop Agent Ryan Tomyn, teacher, listings on social NICK VLASIDIS other girls my age were playing II honest style the medi prop customize my marketing.

I invest in professional like Matthew being no matter what Since starting out in the real estate acr 19 the photography, 20 23 drone shots, and high-quality video, but photograp “My business is based on having strong high-heeled relationships re estate blazing trails atbe situation is, and we’re al can simple.

“My business is professional was borrowing my mother’s maximize thei in at2000, Tara “Th mostArsenault importantly I take the time to listen to my clients, for me starts right the beginguard of today’swith real my clients which industry straight-up honest people.” uilt on relationships, so I make building gence pays off.

Annual shoes and doing pretend open houses and homebuyers an dustry, joining forces because they know their homes the best in terms of who ning where we reach a has common understanding prioritized of what constantly building 16t When it comes to marketing, for the cutting edge they feel their buyers are, and howroughly we can reach those their needs and wants are.

This collaborative approach lationships my business.”

Ryan came to 50 transactions listing descriptions in our living room.” all of the socia relationships with her clients and pro Matthew and Dylan engage a eting and help allows more us to set realistic target demographics.” expectations and ensures al estate from a business background. of 17 million dollars.

Nu robust digital rollout for each ind their way home. as convention mutual success. My clients know that I’m focused providing a high level of customer Acting with integrity is Anne’s highest priority, and she w made the leap on to doing the best for them, and they like that I canlisting, ensuring that their hen he suspected aplanned career intoprint adverRyan finds satisfaction market directly had become a Realtor plansproperty to continue helping her clients for many years to service to give them the best transacAsii client’s receives ate in 2006, She transialso educate them and impart some of my knowledge focus on Posts in the best interest of as my from cellafter phone ing the sales wasn’t bestthe fit for him,forhe reasons well.

He lad en high school, but inmaximum ancome. “Iexposure. tialclibuyers wi so thatgraduating theythe can make best decision themselves tion experience.

Tara’s interest in real what’s ents.

I love connecting with people.

I find it extremely across a range of national and managing multiple and their families,” she says,on andinvestadds, “They also rned Dylan an industry entrepreneurial eye and sched dominated older men at tothe time, Danielle strategy designed draw m estate stems from up wit world-wide realty rewarding towith besites able put to match themhis with own the rightterms home. to cations. began in the my industry when he by appreciate realistic point of view.

It’s one MATTHEW WARSH & thinggrowing RYAN TOMYN TARALYNN Matthew and Dylan’s listings right at a buyer’s finger® At the end of the day, I feel huge satisfaction knowing born and raised in Montreal, he had a passion g. Together with athe friend, Ryan bought hethe wants.

Ryan says, “ DYLAN SLAKMON ARSENAULT dream, at same time we’ve got toattended make and a mom who wassurea that REALTOR ting put herbutdream aside.

She the that University ofpart in seller highest return on tips. Their proactive engagement acrossa small multiple ity’s history andwhat architecture.

As colleagues I played such a monumental step in they’re looking for is attainable. We never want revenue During the process, heher but I value freedom and who inspired passion for helpexp social media platforms, where they have amassed ame Century property.

21 office, Matthew and Dylan Ottawa, but her heart wasn’t in her studies.

She got a their lives.” to find ourselves in a situation where their homeownaccounts for their greatest Christmas party six years ago. Right away, substantial follower-base, CONTENTS ing others find properly their perfecther home. friended alike-minded realtor.

“Iareasked if because heareathought ership dreams shattered I didn’t and had three children, nurturing Over the years, throughwin h of growth. With each listing posted todream their feeds, ognized theirmarried approach to the After living elsewhere, set their expectations.”Affiliated and Dylan stay top-of-mind forapast and with Keller Williams Select and What right Dylanuntil describes as late “A passion for was for5her real estate.”

As Matthew it turned 20s, when she determined to take run and development, Danielle 4) FRESH NEW 17) 4 QUALITIES OF potential clients and have seen their sales continue to rtunity to help people find their dream propback to his hometown, Anne’s real estate journey startedshe in 2004 starting on Realty, serves buyers and sellers ut, the recently considered atAPPROACHES she as work life’s purpose.

Danielle others to live in their the now amplify aswith they leanhusinto social engagement to spearatthew addsagent that their had professional dynamic TOher EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES a what personal level saw with buying properties her city north of Saskatoon head their marketing efforts in the digital age.

It’s a throughout Prince Edward Island. neg onal friendshipaband, has proven key to energizing coming mentor.

The very next day, doingthrough small renovations before progressing breezed the coursework tointoget her Realtor’s purpose and achieve whate CONTENT MARKETING strategy that has garnered Matthew and Dylan seventy ccess. “We workland essentially the same way.” scholarships at his old high school an and new construction development. “I decided to som 21) 5 MORNING HABITS yan studying for his license.

Soon, the two were to eighty million inaannual sales volume. been began helpinglicense their clients successfully naviand began working with team right away to sights on.

“It’s very importa get my trading (sales) license in 2010 and I feel like my local Family and friends are r transactions ever since.

Real estate is ait family business for rodeo. ingi 14) 5 THINGS YOU TO MAKE YOUR experience and knowledge from having done myself businessquickly together. maximize experience incare the field. what DAY you do,” she insists.

As brokers who about their community, Matthew allows me to beTO more compassionate andworked understanding is competing and training in Braz Tara, and who mother buy CAN DO ACHIEVE SUPER PRODUCTIVE Dylan make timewith to giveher back in a as variety of Matthew and Dylan are Brokers with Century flow from that.” to what my clients are going through.” different waysthe through their support, time,and and donan in Montreal where theyagent, partner along with BIGGEST GOALS Arsenault until her death, hadThai her daughgetinexactly Muay kickboxing his freewhat timet yan, now aYOUR solo hasDarlene been serving Saskatoon, tions to a variety of foundations and institutions.

“The first thing my team leader taught me was how to e Broker Sandra Bohbot.

The commonality that Over the past seven years Anne has been a recipient of her as a partner. Together, the ter, Ashtyn Palmer, join always askatchewan area for ten years.

When asked, Ryan attri-Toinlearn value as an artam and actiontrying over more about Anne Murphy They have fully invested themselves their profes-control oth Dylan and Matthew apart throughout their numerous development and sales awards including the give a good handshake,” Danielle laughs.

“I’ve never Going forward, Danielle is Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 email anne@annemurphy.ca, sional careers, supporting their colleagues, discern and are s theirhis prioritization of service to Award their clients. mother and daughter carefully all client utes success to ruthless of fundamental help Ryan’s competitive edge.

In the Sutton Platinum forconsistency high sales volume and Best induo completely devoted to their visit clients.

Matthew and or annemurphy.ca, call (250) they offer a full-service, hands-on approach, forgotten that.” team and542–4443 being a trendsette Class multi-family construction and sustainability mag@topagentmagazine.com |is www.topagentmagazine.com needs and seamlessly help them navigate the Outside work, goal arts to expand their team, increase their through les basics.

Hisnew background in Dylan’s martial keeps him to continue automating his of business ng every transaction and overseeing every dedicated to remaining top o sales, while maintaining the highest level prior ofthree person. Dylan explains, No“We’ve portion ofbuilt this our issuesuccess may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine transaction process.

“We’ve had generations ing a good book revenue properties.

“I would like to b lm and collected in otherwise stressful business situCopyright Top Agent Magazine alized service that precautions has been their trademark sincethe dayaccuracy of published materials, Top years workingAfter seven days a by week to bePublications there is published Feature GA, Inc. Although are taken to ensure 15 years in the industry, Danielle now leads a the client experience, alway of women in our family work in this business, and or kayaking.

She one.that With for their dynamic partnership andsupplied shared Agent Magazine cannot held responsible opinions expressed or facts by its authors. nt every He step ofjumps the way.”

Matthew adds,be “The he integadds.

“To share the lessons my m ions. on opportunities might intimidate rity, the sky’s the limit. subscribe or change send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. oftheirher own,address, serving clients with RE/MAX Direct to better thecate artand of Real Esw a happy clientteam is To setting expectations and I think my clients feel secure with that knowledge. me.” His advice to new agentsworks is to ke other agent.

“I infeel better working pressure, Contact Robin Wilson at 847-207-1975 or email under Robin@ChicagoToNorthShore.com Published the U.S. all over Gatineau, Outaouais—an area that borders the expanding her network by TheyWith knowmy weback haveagainst the necessary expertise to help charities. information: ships strong.

“Just talk to people,” Ry ith no guarantee of success. a NationalEmail: Capital of Ottawa in c21.ca/directory/agents/matthew-warsh Canada. business fromproother areas, developin Warsh - Tel:2 514-923-6700; Matthew.Warsh@Century21.ca, them handle anything thatHer comes up during this Top Agent Magazine all, I have the potential to do exceptionally well if I appreciate it, and your business will p akmon - Tel: 514-963-6550, Email: Dylan.Slakmon@Century21.ca, century21.ca/dylan.slakmon cess,” shebounds says. every year, a tribute the nearoffuture has grown in leaps and gies, stayingInabreast the la ut in the work. That motivates me.”

REALTOR®, Brokerage Owner, Real Estate Investor, House-Flipper, & Wife & Mother; Jennifer Allen is providing services to her clients and her brokerage’s Real Estate Agents on Vancouver Island.

Jennifer began her real estate career in 2005, when she became a Buyers Agent to a Realtor® in Saskatchewan. “I’ve always been interested in looking at homes from an early age, the architecture, design, and unique features,” Jennifer recalls, “and I thought that real estate would be a great way to see homes firsthand.” After a successful Real Estate career of 14 years in Saskatoon, she and her husband moved their family to his hometown of Lake Cowichan in British Columbia. The couple started renovating and flipping houses together, and in June of 2020 they, along with her business partner Ally Earle, purchased RE/MAX of Lake Cowichan, which they have since rebranded as RE/MAX Generation.

“Changing the name to Generation from

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

https://

www.

http://

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

3

5 Fresh New Approaches to Content Marketing A couple of weeks ago we were conducting a workshop when we were asked two excellent questions about content marketing:

• People

don’t want to hear from a roofing company every day. So how do you produce fresh and interesting content for social media that goes beyond your core services and yet ties back to your business?

• Can

you extend your social media presence and content to include personal things (like your hobbies) and how does that affect your overall business image?

4

The workshop attendee who asked the first question was right. Almost no one wants to hear from any company every day… especially if all the content is about products and services…and yes, even if they’re giving helpful tips and information. Does that mean you should stop producing excellent daily content related to your business? No, of course not! Content is created for two reasons.

First, to provide knowledge, expertise and even entertainment to your ideal customers in order to achieve top of mind awareness as an authority in your industry. And second, to produce SEO-rich results that keep you at the top of search engines. You must strike a

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

balance between the two, and try to include content that draws people in by being super interesting and entertaining….and yes, sometimes personal.

To help answer those content questions above, here are five different types of content (beyond the traditional stuff) that can give your brand a fresh, unique and balanced approach:

1. PHILANTHROPIC Your community efforts say a lot about who you are, and people will make an extra effort to do business with you as a result of this connection. We’ve consulted business owners who are very hesitant to promote these efforts because they don’t want it to seem as though they are exploiting the charities and organizations—and most especially because they don’t do it for the promotional aspects. They do it to give back. I ask you to keep this in mind. Nonprofit and charitable organizations very often have small marketing budgets. Not only do they rely on outside marketing forces to promote their initiatives, they would likely be forced to close their doors without that support. That means that when someone with a strong brand and presence promotes them, it’s a highly trusted and personal connection, and you can’t buy that kind of support. In other words, they not only need you to promote them, they want you to promote them. But your instincts are correct. It’s not about you. So just make sure your entire content focuses on the organization you’re helping, what they do for the community and how Top Agent Magazine

others can join in the cause. Then it becomes a huge win for all.

2. HOBBIES You bungee jumped from four of the tallest bridges in the U.S. In your spare time, you go fly fishing. You love playing chef and use only locally grown, organic foods. Your friends are always begging you to go to Vegas with your card shark talents. You’ve done mission work in Africa and would like to start your own group. You almost played professional baseball. You have an insane talent for gardening design or bass guitar.

Your family works at a soup kitchen once a month. Ok…you get the picture. And two more words. Reality TV. People are interesting…and people are interested in interesting people. We remember others based on these unique traits. And most of all, people love the story behind the face. Don’t be afraid to share your hobbies. Quite often, it’s the first thing that will personally connect you to a prospect.

3. CREATIVE CONNECTION This one is perhaps our favorite. While we can’t imagine seeing something come across our news feed from a landscaping company every day, imagine this for a moment. What are we always told to remember in this hectic world? Stop and smell the roses, right? So what if…a landscaping company posted a beautiful flower each day, just to remind you to ‘stop and smell the roses’. And at the bottom of that photo (small print), you included

Top Agent Magazine

5

the type of flower and type of environment needed to make it flourish (moist soil, full sun, etc.). And then, of course, watermarked it with your logo….and a title like, “Sam’s Daily Reminder: It’s Time to Stop & Smell the Roses”. You could even include some great, thought-provoking quotes. It has the personal connection (Sam), the business connection (flowers & logo watermark) and a cool creative connector (pause the meetings and paperwork to take a moment and appreciate life by noticing this beautiful flower). This is a great idea for staying ‘top of mind’ and connecting business with the kind of creative messaging people wouldn’t mind seeing every day.

4. EXPERIENCES This one is similar to hobbies from the personal aspect, but instead of something that identifies us like our hobbies, our experiences are random happenings that can have great interest and meaning to our audience.

Whether you have a unique experience buying a new car or a fateful conversation with a stranger in the airport, if you feel it ties into a life lesson or business lesson you’d like to share, by all means do. The lesson is to keep your radar up 24/7. Any experiences you have which relate to your

ideal customer are an opportunity to connect beyond the business world. And when we do that, we become a part of the family.

5. INFLUENCERS “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. You’ve probably heard that saying, and the same is true whether you are a teenager or a business owner. Maybe you’ve learned a lot of your business knowledge from Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet…or you like to quote Benjamin Franklin. Perhaps you have some mentors you’d like to recognize and tell why they’re important to you. Sharing the people and things that influence us is what makes us human. No matter how successful your business, you didn’t get there alone. People and circumstances shaped you along the way. Recognizing others for their contribution in our lives, large or small, is important in staying connected and grounded.

We hope these five types of content help you to put a fresh spin on what you share with your audience, whether personal or professional. We believe you must have the combination of both to build an incredible brand.

Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder of BrandFace®, LLC. Michael Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace® partner. Together, they focus on personal branding and marketing designed to help real estate professionals become the face of their business & a star in their market. BrandFace® for Real Estate Professionals is a book, professional speaking series and an exclusive workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com.

6

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

JENNIFER ALLEN

Top Agent Magazine

7

Top Agent Jennifer Allen of RE/MAX Generation serves the Cowichan Valley area, including Mill Bay up to Ladysmith, Chemainus, Lake Cowichan, Youbou, and Honeymoon Bay. REALTOR®, Brokerage Owner, Real Estate Investor, House-Flipper, & Wife & Mother; Jennifer Allen is providing services to her clients and her brokerage’s Real Estate Agents on Vancouver Island.

NICK VLASIDIS

8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Jennifer began her real estate career in 2005, when she became a Buyers Agent to a Realtor® in Saskatchewan. “I’ve always been interested in looking at homes from an early age, the architecture, design, and unique features,” Jennifer recalls, “and I thought that real estate would be a great way to see homes firsthand.” After a successful Real Estate career of 14 years in Saskatoon, she and her husband moved their family to his hometown of Lake Cowichan in British Columbia. The couple started renovating and flipping houses together, and in June of 2020 they, along with her business partner Ally Earle, purchased RE/MAX of Lake Cowichan, which they have since rebranded as RE/MAX Generation.

“Changing the name to Generation from Top Agent Magazine

Lake Cowichan is just the beginning of what we have in store for our office. Rebranding the name to be more inclusive of the areas we serve, and an exciting future of growth within the Cowichan Valley and Vancouver Island.”

Top Agent Magazine

Jennifer serves the Cowichan Valley area, including Mill Bay up to Ladysmith, Chemainus, Lake Cowichan, Youbou, and Honeymoon Bay. The majority of her business comes from referrals, a testament to the trust and confidence she inspires.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

“My experience is very valuable and sets me apart,” Jennifer explains. “It’s also been valuable to have other successful agents in the office, as there is a lot of reciprocal business exchanged.

Our office is the main stop buyers make when they want to explore Real Estate in our area, which has resulted in our agents receiving many buyer leads and other opportunities. Our sellers are always impressed by our Marketing and Professionalism. We’re a small community of Realtors® but have worked very hard to make a big impact. That combined with our heart centred Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

office, we feel that we have created a harmonious office space that both our clients and our Agents feel like family.”

When it comes to marketing her listings, Jennifer has her clients’ needs covered. “I really love marketing homes,” she says. “I think that shows very well in my social media content. When I put out a listing, it’s always accompanied by high-quality professional photography. I also love to create marketing videos to showcase the home, and I feature myself within the videos to Top Agent Magazine

“Our office is the main stop buyers make when they want to explore Real Estate in our area, which has resulted in our agents receiving many buyer leads and other opportunities.” give people an idea of my personality and who I am. It also provides great social media content, and since so many people are on social media these days, it allows me to have that exposure and land right in people’s feeds.” You can follow Jennifer on Facebook at ‘Jennifer Allen REMAX Generation’.

Network. Jennifer is also a director on the Lake Cowichan Chamber of Commerce board, as well as being involved with the new hockey team coming to town, the Lake Cowichan Kraken. Jennifer is also involved with the Cowichan Lake Trail Blazers, a local organization that grooms mountain bike trails in the community.

Community involvement is important to Jennifer.

Through RE/MAX she contributes a portion of every sale towards the Children’s Miracle

One of Jennifer’s proudest achievements in real estate was in 2010-2011 when she was part of a team that sold 18 units for families who were

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

low-income and first-time homeowners. “That was a really wonderful point in my career,” Jennifer says. “It’s already so amazing to hand over the keys to a first-time homebuyer, so to be able to do that for somebody who had no idea this could be a reality for them was extremely rewarding.” And in 2017 she and an associate Jonathan Katsiris, sold 60 residential condo units in 60 days, exclusively.

Today, the project she is most excited about is Trails Edge Lake Cowichan, a multi-phase building lot development within the Community of

Lake Cowichan. At the time of this article, phase 1 is over 50% sold in just a few short weeks on the market! It’s safe to say, Jennifer is not daunted by long days and works hard for her clients to get the job done!

In the future, Jennifer plans to continue expanding her business and providing excellent personalized service to her clients. “Real estate is my passion,” she says, “and I’m so excited to continue helping my clients achieve their Real Estate goals.”

Contact Jennifer Allen at 250.510.1311, email realtorjenniferallen@gmail.com, or visit jenniferallenrealestate.com www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

13

5 Things You Can Do To Achieve Your Biggest Goals If there’s one thing successful people can agree on, it’s that setting goals has been key to their success.

Whether you’re creating a five year plan or just settling on what you want to achieve by the end of the day, setting goals gives you the focus and direction you need to complete even the biggest tasks.

But there is a method to setting them. It’s a process that takes careful thought and consideration up front, which is then combined with the hard work necessary to implement your plan. Luckily there are proven methods to goal setting that you can start using immediately.

1. MAKE YOUR GOALS SPECIFIC Yes, it’s fun to think in grand terms of where you want to end up in life and in your career, but it’s better to have a specific goal like “Increase my sales by 25%”, than “Get rich.” When a goal is clear and specific, it allows you to figure out the exact steps you need to take to accomplish it. The more general it is, the more paralyzed you might be when it comes to figuring out what to do since, the choices may be overwhelming.

2. MAKE IT ATTAINABLE Making attainable goals might seem boring, I mean afterall, you want to dream big! But you don’t want to suffer through the disappointment of not reaching your goal, something that may not even be possible at this stage in your life to begin with. One solution to that is creating goal levels. You can have the dream goal, but underneath that you have the realistic goals that are setting up a foundation for achieving the big one. Things that are attainable still take work and effort to achieve. Those small victories will keep you motivated and encouraged to go for the bigger dreams. And don’t forget, those 14

little goals may have been things you wouldn’t have gotten done if you didn’t set out to achieve them, so be proud!

3. PUT A PLAN OF ACTION IN WRITING Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. There is something about seeing things in writing and crossing them off the list that is oddly satisfying.The daily goals are especially important in regards to building up those good habits. The first few weeks of your plan of action are critical when it comes to your long term success. Reaching a goal is something you are doing every day, all throughout the day, in numerous ways. Achieving goals is all about creating good new habits.

4. MAKE IT MEASURABLE This is key, since you definitely want to reward yourself for a job well done, and having a goal that is measurable in some way is a sure way to know.

Maybe it’s to increase your lead generation or to cut expenses, whatever the case, have a measurable test you need to meet, as well as a time frame. Then calculate what you have to do to reach that goal. Not only should your goal be specific, but the plan and the measure of success should also be set in stone.

5. ADJUST AS YOU GO You can have all the best laid plans, and you still might quickly realize that what you thought would help you reach your goal, might not be cutting it.

Commitment to reaching your goals is good, but commitment to a plan you know isn’t going to work is not only a waste of time, but will be a devastating blow to your motivation. Sticking to a plan everyday means adjusting it accordingly.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ANNE MURPHY awards for her developments. “I spend a good portion of my time in designing and planning new construction projects for my construction company.”

Always striving to ensure her clients have the best possible experience, Anne Murphy is a real estate agent who makes it her responsibility that her clients understand and are comfortable with every aspect of the transaction from start to finish. This focus on the details and the determination to ensure a successful transaction for all involved sets Anne apart as a trusted resource for buyers and sellers throughout the Okanagan and provides Anne’s clients with the best possible recipe for success in their real estate endeavors.

“My business is based on having strong relationships with my clients which for me starts right at the beginning where we reach a common understanding of what their needs and wants are. This collaborative approach allows us to set realistic expectations and ensures mutual success. My clients know that I’m focused on doing the best for them, and they like that I can also educate them and impart some of my knowledge so that they can make the best decision for themselves and their families,” she says, and adds, “They also appreciate my realistic point of view. It’s one thing to dream, but at the same time we’ve got to make sure that what they’re looking for is attainable. We never want to find ourselves in a situation where their homeownership dreams are shattered because I didn’t properly set their expectations.”

Aside from her professionalism, experience, and honest communication skills, what makes Anne stand out is her impressive marketing. She believes that the most important part of marketing starts by sitting down with the client and keenly listening to their knowledge of the property. “I don’t have the same approach to every home, I customize my marketing. I invest in professional photography, drone shots, and high-quality video, but most importantly I take the time to listen to my clients, because they know their homes the best in terms of who they feel their buyers are, and how we can reach those target demographics.”

Acting with integrity is Anne’s highest priority, and she plans to continue helping her clients for many years to come. “I focus on what’s in the best interest of my clients. I love connecting with people. I find it extremely rewarding to be able to match them with the right home.

At the end of the day, I feel huge satisfaction knowing that I played a small part in such a monumental step in their lives.”

Anne’s real estate journey started in 2004 starting on a personal level with buying properties with her husband, doing small renovations before progressing into land and new construction development. “I decided to get my trading (sales) license in 2010 and I feel like my experience and knowledge from having done it myself allows me to be more compassionate and understanding to what my clients are going through.”

Over the past seven years Anne has been a recipient of numerous development and sales awards including the Sutton Platinum Award for high sales volume and Best in Class new multi-family construction and sustainability Top Agent Magazine

To learn more about Anne Murphy email anne@annemurphy.ca, visit annemurphy.ca, or call (250) 542–4443 https://

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 15

DANIELLE JOLICOEUR Danielle Jolicoeur wanted to be a real estate agent ever since she was ten years old, when her family purchased a new home. The Realtor who showed them houses was a woman who projected confidence and success, something Danielle began trying to emulate. “She made a big impression on me. When other girls my age were playing teacher, I was borrowing my mother’s high-heeled shoes and doing pretend open houses and listing descriptions in our living room.”

She had planned to become a Realtor after graduating high school, but in an industry dominated by older men at the time, Danielle put her dream aside. She attended the University of Ottawa, but her heart wasn’t in her studies. She got married and had three children, nurturing her dream until her late 20s, when she determined to take a run at what she saw as her work life’s purpose. Danielle breezed through the coursework to get her Realtor’s license and began working with a team right away to quickly maximize experience in the field.

“The first thing my team leader taught me was how to give a good handshake,” Danielle laughs. “I’ve never forgotten that.”

After 15 years in the industry, Danielle now leads a team of her own, serving clients with RE/MAX Direct all over Gatineau, Outaouais—an area that borders the National Capital of Ottawa in Canada. Her business has grown in leaps and bounds every year, a tribute to Danielle’s dedication to taking care of clients like family. “If we’re working with a buyer, our goal is to help them find the right fit for their lifestyle. It’s always about being responsive and delivering the best service and customer experience in the industry.”

Danielle and her team are equally time-generous with sellers, assisting them in staging, creating professional photos of the property, and developing a listing profile that captures and brings interest to every attribute of the home.

Through videography and bright color images, they showcase the kind of lifestyle the property supports, and they maximize their reach and visibility to homebuyers and investors by utilizing all of the social media platforms as well as conventional methods. They also market directly to Realtors and potential buyers within their sphere. It’s a strategy designed to draw multiple offers and net the seller the highest return on their investment.

Over the years, through her own personal growth and development, Danielle has worked to inspire others to live in their now, find and fulfill their purpose and achieve whatever dream they set their sights on. “It’s very important to be passionate about what you do,” she insists. “Success and Happiness flow from that.”

Going forward, Danielle is focused on growing her team and being a trendsetter in the industry. She is dedicated to remaining top of mind when it comes to the client experience, always evolving and learning to better the art of Real Estate. That effort includes expanding her network by connecting with Realtors from other areas, developing new marketing strategies, staying abreast of the latest industry technology, and honing her leadership skills. “I want all of our clients to remember their experience with us as being supported and looked after. I want them to think of us and the expertise we bring when family and friends are looking to buy or sell. I want to be their go to.”

For more information about Danielle Jolicoeur please call 819-775-2800 or email daniellejolicoeur@me.com 16

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

4 Qualities of Exceptional Employees Hiring a new employee is one of the more stressful parts of being a business owner. After all, you’re taking someone on and trusting that they’ll not only be a valuable addition to the team, but won’t do anything to hurt your business’s hard earned reputation.

Sometimes a person comes in and you click right away, and other times you might be blown away by an impressive resume. But there are things you should look for that might not be as obvious at first. Employees that have the following qualities are ones you should seek out, because they will definitely be well worth the time and energy you invest in them.

Top Agent Magazine

1. They have the confidence to be innovative There’s a reason people are drawn to those who think outside the box. Not only do innovations often lead to an extremely profitable business, even when that thinking doesn’t pan out, creative thinking is something that will energize your business and will motivate more employees to start taking chances.

Innovative thinkers also usually have great leadership skills. Ironically, you want an employee who isn’t afraid to speak up to authority and is someone who knows how to bend the rules without breaking them. They know that

Top Agent Magazine

17

the success of the team and business is what’s most important, as long as it’s done ethically and with respect for everyone involved.

2. They are constantly reviewing their past performance A good employee looks forward, but they also look back. They are always evaluating what worked and what didn’t work in past performances and then adjusting their plans going forward accordingly. If they are coming off a big win, they know how to capitalize on that by using the momentum and cementing in everyone’s minds the value that they add to the team.

If things didn’t go as planned, they assess what they can do better next time, and they don’t get bogged down in insecurity. They take responsibility and they have confidence that they won’t repeat past mistakes. They know that failure is a temporary state, and are able to learn lessons from their mistakes, that will make them a better employee going forward.

While no one wants to fail, having the confidence to try something and fail will one day let you strike gold. Someone who lets failure shut them down, leads to a dead end and will soon make them a dead weight on your team.

3. They value teamwork Even though an exceptional employee might be a rising star, they realize that success is 18

not an individual endeavor, it relies strongly on who you’re working with. Exceptional employees make sure that everyone is contributing and valued for their input. They put the interests of the company above their own, and thrive in an environment where ideas and information are shared freely.

Shared success is the ultimate goal for every project. Exceptional employees have the confidence to know that even when they’re not singled out for praise, they’re an irreplaceable component of a larger machine.

4. They are self-motivated learners A key thing to remember is that while experience is a valuable commodity, intelligence and intellectual curiosity is usually something that can’t be taught. Yes, you might request employees get additional training or attend seminars, but exceptional employees will be seeking out educational opportunities constantly. Even if they don’t have a lot of money for weekend retreats, they will be getting books from the library, downloading audiobooks, and most importantly, taking advantage of one their greatest resources, YOU. Exceptional employees know that the way to stay ahead is to always be at the forefront of new technology and systems. They don’t see educating themselves as a burden, they actually enjoy it. They realize that everything they take in, will one day make them not only an exceptional employee, but an exceptional boss as well.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

MATTHEW WARSH & DYLAN SLAKMON Brokers like Matthew and Dylan are blazing trails at the vanguard of today’s real estate industry, joining forces to reach for the cutting edge of marketing and help more clients find their way home.

Matthew made the leap to real estate in 2006, transitioning from the cell phone industry, managing multiple retail locations. Dylan began in the industry when he was 18; born and raised in Montreal, he had a passion for the city’s history and architecture. As colleagues at the same Century 21 office, Matthew and Dylan met at a Christmas party six years ago. Right away, they recognized their like-minded approach to the industry. What Dylan describes as “A passion for the opportunity to help people find their dream property.” Matthew adds that their professional dynamic and personal friendship has proven key to energizing their success. “We work essentially the same way.”

They’ve been helping their clients successfully navigate their transactions ever since.

Today, Matthew and Dylan are Brokers with Century 21 Vision in Montreal where they partner along with Associate Broker Sandra Bohbot. The commonality that has set both Dylan and Matthew apart throughout their careers is their prioritization of service to their clients.

Together they offer a full-service, hands-on approach, negotiating every transaction and overseeing every showing. Dylan explains, “We’ve built our success over the years working seven days a week to be there for a client every step of the way.” Matthew adds, “The basis for a happy client is setting their expectations and

being honest no matter what the situation is, and we’re straight-up honest people.”

When it comes to marketing, Matthew and Dylan engage a robust digital rollout for each listing, ensuring that their client’s property receives maximum exposure. Posts across a range of national and world-wide realty sites put Matthew and Dylan’s listings right at a buyer’s fingertips. Their proactive engagement across multiple social media platforms, where they have amassed a substantial follower-base, accounts for their greatest area of growth. With each listing posted to their feeds, Matthew and Dylan stay top-of-mind for past and potential clients and have seen their sales continue to amplify as they lean into social engagement to spearhead their marketing efforts in the digital age. It’s a strategy that has garnered Matthew and Dylan seventy to eighty million in annual sales volume.

As brokers who care about their community, Matthew and Dylan make time to give back in a variety of different ways through their support, time, and donations to a variety of foundations and institutions.

They have fully invested themselves in their professional careers, supporting their colleagues, and are completely devoted to their clients. Matthew and Dylan’s goal is to expand their team, increase their sales, while maintaining the highest level of personalized service that has been their trademark since day one. With their dynamic partnership and shared integrity, the sky’s the limit.

For more information: Matthew Warsh - Tel: 514-923-6700; Email: Matthew.Warsh@Century21.ca, c21.ca/directory/agents/matthew-warsh Dylan Slakmon - Tel: 514-963-6550, Email: Dylan.Slakmon@Century21.ca, century21.ca/dylan.slakmon www.

http://

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 19

RYAN TOMYN According to Top Agent Ryan Tomyn, real estate can be simple. “My business is built on relationships, so I make building relationships my business.” Ryan came to real estate from a business background.

When he suspected a career in print advertising sales wasn’t the best fit for him, he turned an entrepreneurial eye on investing. Together with a friend, Ryan bought a revenue property. During the process, he befriended a realtor. “I asked if he thought I was right for real estate.” As it turned out, the agent had recently considered becoming a mentor. The very next day, Ryan began studying for his license. Soon, the two were in business together.

Ryan, now a solo agent, has been serving the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan area for ten years. When asked, Ryan attributes his success to ruthless consistency of fundamental sales basics. His background in martial arts keeps him calm and collected in otherwise stressful business situations. He jumps on opportunities that might intimidate another agent. “I feel better working under pressure, with no guarantee of success. With my back against a wall, I have the potential to do exceptionally well if I put in the work. That motivates me.”

One practice that sets Ryan apart from his peers is that when a client calls, he responds immediately. The way he sees it, time is significant. “People need your service now,” he says. “Everyone is time sensitive, so availability is the best ability. I’m there whenever my clients need me.” To stay in touch, he keeps records in a CRM database, ranking clients based on receptivity.

Optimization does not have to be impersonal, either.

Some things are better the old-fashioned way. A Brian Buffini course introduced Ryan to the value of writing letters by hand. He makes phone calls and texts, sends newsletters, and stops by to say hello.

Make no mistake, Ryan is not averse to technology.

To market listings, he is active and has sealed deals on Facebook and Instagram. In his words, “I just blast 20

listings on social media.” Also, he hires professional photographers. This diligence pays off. Annually, Ryan executes roughly 50 transactions totaling upwards of 17 million dollars. Numbers matter, but Ryan finds satisfaction in his job for other reasons as well. He enjoys operating on his own terms and scheduling his life how he wants. Ryan says, “I stay busy, sure, but I value freedom and flexibility.”

After living elsewhere, Ryan has moved back to his hometown, Warman, a cozy city north of Saskatoon. There, he funds scholarships at his old high school and volunteers at the local rodeo. Family and friends are important to Ryan, as is competing and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai kickboxing in his free time. Both martial arts value control as an art and action over reaction, and both help Ryan’s competitive edge. In the future, he wants to continue automating his business and investing in revenue properties. “I would like to become a mentor,” he adds. “To share the lessons my mentor shared with me.” His advice to new agents is to keep those relationships strong. “Just talk to people,” Ryan assures. “They appreciate it, and your business will prosper.”

You can reach out to Ryan at: RE/MAX North Country; (306) 222-1073; mrt@sasktel.net; ryantomyn.ca realtor.ca/agent/1937484/ryan-tomyn-box-1630warman-saskatchewan-s0k4s0 https://

www.

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

5 Morning Habits to Make Your Day Super Productive For many, most mornings begin with a rush—a rush to get dressed, a rush to find something edible for breakfast, a rush out the door and into rush hour. Likely you have heard articles advising you to set your

alarm early to give yourself some flexibility —which is sound advice, of course—but consider a few of these additional tweaks to your morning routine that can set a productive tone for your day at large.

1. Keep Screens Away Until Breakfast Oftentimes, our first instinct upon waking is to check-in on our phones, tablets, or computers, to scope out the latest social media updates and e-mail correspondence. While diving into the action might seem productive, studies show that waylaying screen time until you’re up and dressed, and have had a good breakfast, will actually make your first pass Top Agent Magazine

at all things digital more focused, clear, and efficient. Instead of answering a few e-mails, checking out a friend’s photos, and then hurrying to shower and dress, instead make a resolution to keep the online world at bay for the first half-hour to an hour after you rise, then you’ll approach the digital world with fresh eyes, energy, and adeptness.

Top Agent Magazine

21

2. Meal Prep Sometimes hitting the snooze button is inevitable, but if you make prepping breakfast the night before a part of your routine, then grabbing something healthy on the go will be a snap—and your stomach will thank you for it. Load up your coffee machine ahead of time, so all you have to do

is hit brew. Or, chop up a fruit salad, mix a smoothie, or simply put a granola bar and a grapefruit in your lunch bag, ready to be grabbed on your way out the door. Even if it’s small or basic, keeping yourself fueled will keep distractions, inefficiency, and mood swings at bay.

3. Queue Up a Podcast on Your Commute Whether you’re driving, biking, or taking public transportation into the office, a podcast is a perfect way to brush up on industry knowledge. Try sourcing a podcast relative to your field and narrated by experts.

Not only will it get you thinking about the topics of your industry—while expanding

your professional vocabulary—it will also wake up your brain and get your head in the game as you prepare to launch your day. Use your commute time to bump up your knowledge and conversation points, and you’ll be ahead of the curve before you reach the office.

4. Begin with a To-Do List When work gets busy, sometimes just getting started is an overwhelming prospect.

Before you dive in to your e-mails and projects, take twenty minutes and be thoughtful as you assess your daily and weekly to-do

list items, then map them. By giving yourself a bullet point system of what you need to accomplish and by when, you can undo some of the anxiety that a busy schedule promotes.

5. Walk It Out, Even If You Missed the Gym While we often rely on coffee for our morning buzz, exercise provides a potent burst of energy that can supercharge your day. But, let’s say you’re running behind and skip the gym—all is not lost! Take fifteen minutes in

the early morning to take a walk around the block a few times. The fresh air and aerobic exercise will wake you up, get your blood moving, and provide your morning with a natural injection of motivation.

Everyone’s morning routine varies, but perhaps the first step is identifying aspects of your routine that could be improved, and tackling them from there. From waylaying

screen time distractions to getting in a little blood-pumping exercise, keep these tips in mind as you launch your most productive morning routine ever.

22

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

TARALYNN ARSENAULT Since starting out in the real estate industry in 2000, Tara Arsenault has constantly prioritized building relationships with her clients and providing a high level of customer service to give them the best transaction experience. Tara’s interest in real estate stems from growing up with a mom who was a REALTOR® and who inspired her passion for helping others find their perfect home.

Affiliated with Keller Williams Select Realty, she serves buyers and sellers throughout Prince Edward Island.

Real estate is a family business for Tara, who worked with her mother Darlene Arsenault until her death, and had her daughter, Ashtyn Palmer, join her as a partner. Together, the mother and daughter duo carefully discern all client needs and seamlessly help them navigate through the transaction process. “We’ve had three generations of women in our family work in this business, and I think my clients feel secure with that knowledge.

They know we have the necessary expertise to help them handle anything that comes up during this process,” she says.

Tara has plenty of marketing techniques that she likes to utilize in order to get her clients the highest offer.

Some of them include a heavy emphasis on social media, like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

She also uses apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp for virtual showings or interviews with clients who cannot physically be on PEI to buy or sell their property. Her diligent work and dedication have ensured that the team has received top awards at KW

across Canada for the past few years.

“This year, as of August, we were 16th in Canada, and we’re extremely proud of that achievement.”

Aside from her success and accolades, what really drives Tara to work with enthusiasm is her love for getting clients the best deal. She is an expert negotiator who gets excited by winning the real estate bidding war and helping her clients regardless of the state the market is in. “I love the negotiation part of real estate. There’s something very exciting and rewarding about advocating on behalf of my buyers and sellers and helping them get exactly what they want and, often, much more. I am always trying to get the best deal for our clients.”

Outside of work, Tara can be found in nature, reading a good book, taking a peaceful walk, fishing, or kayaking. She is also a passionate animal advocate and works with many different animal rescue charities.

In the near future, she looks forward to training and mentoring other agents in order to help them learn the values that will lead them to their own success as well as the success of their clients. “I’d like to do more mentor work and help instill good ethics in the agents who are entering the business and still learning the ropes,” she says, and adds, “I believe that honesty and good ethics should be the two main pillars of any business. If you’re a new agent, I advise you to work to the best of your ability, and if you don’t know the answer to a question, search until you find out.”

To learn more about Taralynn Arsenault, email taralynnproperties@gmail.com, or call (902) 315–2892 Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 23

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

24

Top Agent Magazine